Mechanism for breaking asphaltic blocks.



G. E. WHITNEY.

MECHANISM FOR BREAKING ASPHALTIG BLOCKS.

APPLICATION TILED MAR. 11, 1908.

Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

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THE NORRIS PErERS CD.fNU10-LITHO. WAS'IINGION, By C T STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. WHITNEY, OF YQNKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTERNATIONAL PAVEMENT COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICU'I.

MECHANISM FOR BREAKING ASPHALTIG BLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedDec. 1, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE E. -i/Vnrmnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yonkers, in the county of Westchester, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Mechanism for Breaking Asphaltic Blocks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to mechanism particularly intended to part, break or divide asphaltic or other paving blocks in order that portions of blocks may be fitted in position as required by the exigencies of street paving. It is apparent, however, that the mechanism may be employed for other purposes.

In order that the principles of the invention may be clearly understood, I have disclosed a single type or embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of an asphaltic block parter, breaker or divider embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of said mechanism; and Fig. 4 is a detail illustrating the manner in which it is desirable to part, break or divide a block that is to be fitted against the curbing.

Referring more particularly to that type or embodiment of my invention herein illustrated, it is noted that preferably the block parter, breaker or divider is of such proportions and so mounted as to be conveniently transported from place to place. Thus the blocks may be parted, broken or divided at or near the place where they are laid upon the road bed in paving the same.

Paving blocks now in use are to a large extent composed of comparatively small portions of trap rock united by a suitable asphaltic or other cementitious binder penetrating the interstices between the portions of rock so that the block when compressed is composed of trap rock portions irregularly arranged but in close proximity and united by a binder.

My invention is intended more particularly to part, break or divide such blocks which are generally made of a standard length although it is apparent that in certainaspects of the invention the same is applicable for use in other relations. Owing to the irregular manner in which the trap rock portions are disposed in the com pressed block, it is apparent that were it attempted to use a cutting blade or blades to sever the block, the rock portions would obstruct the passage of the blade or blades in such manner as to require the application of extreme pressure to affect the cutting. I have ascertained in the course of my experiments that asphaltic paving blocks may be parted, broken or divided with the employment of a minimum of power by providing parting means preferably penetrating the block only to a comparatively slight depth to establish or start a line of cleavage or separation, which, under the application of pressure, continues through the block, so that the same is parted upon an approximately straight line but with irregularities consequent upon the irregular disposition of the portions of trap rock which present jagged portions in the severed face.

The block parter in which my invention is embodied may be provided with any suitable base. Herein, for the purpose, I employ heavy wooden members 1-1 secured by suitable bolts 2 into V form. the said members being of suliicient length to provide a firm support for the mechanism when the same is operated. Upon the base members 1--1 I mount a suitable frame 3 herein provided with legs 4. 5 and 6 bolted to said base members. Preferablv the part of the frame beneath that end of the block that is to be severed is provided with oppositely tapered upper surface portions. as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 9. to prevent the crumbs or particles of the blocks from aceumulatingupon the frame work. I provide a suitable support for the blocks in proper relation to the parting means. Herein, for the purpose, I employ a plate 7 bolted to the frame work, and in this type of my invention also employ a lower cooperating block parter. breaker or divider 8 preferably blunt and which may be removably secured to the frame work in any suitable manner. as by bolts 9 and 10 (see Fig. 2), it being apparent that the said bolts may be employed to secure the plate 7 and the block parter 8 in position. Rising from the horizontal portion of the frame work 3 is an uprigit 11 to which is pivoted an arm 12 having secured to a portion thereof, as represented in Fig. 1, a block parter, breaker or divider 13, also preferably blunt and herein shown as removably secured by bolts 14 and 15. Any suitable means may be employed relatively to move the block parters 8 and 13. In the present type of my invention, the block parter 13 is movable towardvand from the block and has a range of movement less than that dimension of the block through which it is to be parted. While any suitable means may be employed 'to operate the block parter 13, herein I have provided links 16 and 17 journaled upon projecting bearing portions 18 and 19 of the pivoted arm 12. Connected to the lower ends of the links 16 and 17, as by pins 20 and 21, are lever arm's 22 and 23 mounted at their lower ends upon a pintle 24 whereon an elongated operating arm 25 is pivoted, the constructi'on being such that as the operator bears upon the outer end of the arm 25 to depress the same, the links 16 and 17 are depressed to bring the block parter 13 into engagement with and to penetrate to a suitable extent the block 26. It will be observed that the pair of links 16, 22 have their meeting ends pivotally connected, and their opposite ends fulcrumed on the bearing portion 18 and the pintle 24 respectively. The pair of links 17, 28 is similarly arranged. There fore each pair constitutes a toggle. The arm '25 rigid with the lever arms 22 and 23, constitutes a bell crank lever. By bearing down upon the arm 25 thetoggles are buckled, thereby moving the upper partner-13 down, toward the lower parter 8, causing them to bite or squeeze into and break the block. By the squeezing action imparted to the parters a line of cleavage is started with the result that the end of the block is divided, broken or parted from the main body thereof by the application of'a minimum amount of pressure. It is to be understood that in the formation of paving, blocks they are subjected to a very high pressure, so that they are of great density and cannot readily be severed by a cuttingaction without the application of excessive force. Owing to the fact that so far as'I am aware no suitable mechanism for the general purpose herein indicated has been devised to sever such blocks, it has heretofore been customary to break them by hand,as by the use of a pick or similar tool. This method is uncertain, inasmuch as the line'of cleavage cannot accurately be established at'th e desired point. I contemplate in this type of my invention so operating the movable block parter that the maximum of strain or pressure is applied thereby to the block at the beginning of theoperati'on, such strain or pressure being proportionately reduced and the speed of theblcck parter being increased as the parting processadvances until a point is reached when "the block is parted.

While this may be accomplished in any desired manner, herein links 22 and 23 are so connected with the links 16 and 17 that as the lever 25 is depressed said links 16 and l7'are first moved at the minimum rate of speed, this speed gradually increasing. The strain or pressure imparted through said links 16 and 17 and the block parter upon the block is the greatest at the commencement of the parting operation and gradually decreases as the .speed of movement of the block parter increases, In this embodiment of my invention, the block parter 13 is positively stopped at the end of its parting stroke, and after having penetrated the block to an extent substantially less than that dimension of the block through which it is to be parted, by encountering the base of the frame or its support. Any other suitable means, positively to stop, the penetrating movement of the block parter materially before it has entirely passed through the block from its upper to its lower face, may be employed.

In paving streets, it is customary to make adjacent transverse rows of block break joints with each other. It is thus necessary that alternate transverse rows of blocks terminate at one end with a short block which is usually provided by'breaking a whole block by a pick or the like. This is unsatisfactory, not only because the proper length of block cannot be accurately secured, but also because the broken face of the block presents a jagged outline which may projec't'between the upper and lower faces of the block beyond the edges of such faces. It is essential that a close fit be established between the curb or other bounding portion and the adjacent edge of the block, as represented at 27 in Fig. 4. llf, however, the block be broken by a pick or the like, porti ons of the severed face mayexte'nd beyond the upper edge 27 and must therefore be chipped off to permit a proper fit of the block against the curb at the upper edge'of the block. To prevent the occurrence of such projecting portions intermediate the upper and lower faces of the block, I break the block upon an incline, as represented at '28 in Fig. 4-. so that even though a jagged face he presented when the blockis parted or broken, there is little or no liability that such jagged portions will proiect beyond the overhanging up er edge 27. I most readily accomplish this result by inclining the plate '7, so as to present the block upon a slant to the action of the block breaker or parter 13. as clearly represented in Fig. 1. If desired, suitable graduations 29 may be provided upon the upper face of the plate 7 and numerals or the like may be used in connection with such g aduations whereby the operative may readily break or part the block into'the required'length. In use,'this form of my invention may be most readily utilized by two operatives, one of whom positions and holds the block 26 to be subjected to the action of the parting or breaking mechanism and the other of whom bears upon the outer end of the arm 25 to depress the same.

Having thus described one type or embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be fully understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a descriptive and generic sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims.

1. Mechanism for breaking, parting or dividing asphalt blocks and for other purposes comprising a block support, a block parter having its edge substantially parallel to the upper surface of the block and adjacent that face of the block opposite to said support, said parter having a penetrating range of movement oblique to the surface of the block, and less than that dimension of the block through which it is to be parted, said support being inclined transversely to the block parter, a movable supporting arm for the block parter and from which the latter downwardly extends, a support for said arm substantially parallel to the block parter, a crank at the face of the block opposite said parter and a member connecting said crank and said arm, said crank and member being substantially in alinement at the commencement of the operation, whereby power may be applied approximately over the parter, said crank and member constituting a toggle, whereby a maximum of strain and minimum of speed is imparted at the commencement of the parting operation with a gradual decrease of strain and increase of speed as the parting operation progresses.

2. Mechanism for breaking, parting or dividing asphalt blocks and for other purposes comprising a block support, a block parter adjacent that face of the block opposite said support, said parter having a pene trating range of movement oblique to the surface of the block and less than that dimension of the block through which it is to be parted, said support being inclined trans versely to the block parter, a movable supporting arm for the block parter and from which the latter downwardly extends, a support for said arm substantially parallel to the block parter, a member mounted for turning movement below the face of the block opposite said parter, and a connection between said arm and said member, said connection and said member being substantially in alinement at the commencement of the operation, whereby power may be applied approximately over the parter, said member and connection being so related that a maximum of strain and minimum of speed is imparted at the commencement of the parting operation, with a gradual decrease of strain and increase of speed as the parting operation progresses.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE E. XVHITNEY.

Witnesses:

LUCY KILLIAN, M. J. GARDNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

